The 'Real New England Patriots'
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That is how Lt. Col Cheryl Poppe, executive officer of the 79th Troop Command, described the 25 men and women of Detachment One, Company C of the 3-126th Aviation battalion of the Massachusetts National Guard at its deployment ceremony on Sept. 7 at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield. Friends and family gathered for the event, which featured a short address from Governor Mitt Romney. Romney said that people attending the event "understand just how a great a price freedom comes at." Brigadier General Oliver Mason, the adjunct general of the Massachusetts National Guard, told the troops, "We're proud of you. We'll support you and we'll be here for you when you get back."
The unit will operate medical evacuation helicopters in Iraq and will be in the war zone for a 12-14 month tour of duty.
Mason told Reminder Publications that there are currently 1,100 Guard personnel deployed in the war against terror. About 800 are in Iraq and Afghanistan, while another 300 serve in mobilized positions in this country. he said that so far 4,500 Bay State Guard members have been mobilized some serving two tours of duty.
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